Validation versus Qualification in Shipping

Validation means that processes will lead to consistent, reproducible results under highly controlled environmental conditions. However, in the shipping industry, transportation providers cannot control every factor during transport due to external variables (weather, capacity constraints, mechanical failures, missed connections, clearance delays, etc.). So in transportation, we are really talking about qualification rather than validation, and while it is not possible to validate transportation processes, they can in fact be qualified.

The International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q7 guideline defines qualification as the “action of proving and documenting that equipment or ancillary systems are properly installed, work correctly, and actually lead to the expected results”.

We often offer trial shipments to potential shippers as part of our business development efforts. For example, we conducted many initial tests in close collaboration with interested shippers in specific transportation lanes to qualify the passive FedEx® thermal blanket solution that keeps freight in a controlled room-temperature range during transit.

Shipping results from those proofs of concept allow healthcare companies to share actual data with their internal decision makers by collecting evidence required for verification and business approval. Once the lane has been officially qualified, if actual data shows that temperatures did not stay within the expected temperature range, then FedEx engineers take post-shipping corrective actions.

It is possible to validate packaging materials and containers in environmental chambers using well-defined temperature profiles. However, once validated systems move through the supply chain, they experience environmental variability such as temperature changes. So unfortunately, validated packaging systems can fail, as many shippers experienced this year under severe winter weather conditions. Temperature monitoring during transit is essential to rule out product degradation due to temperature spikes. To address this, many shippers use multi-sensor SenseAware® devices to qualify packaging and transportation routes, in addition to using their near-real time temperature monitoring features.

Christelle Laot

Technical Fellow

Dr. Christelle Laot joined FedEx Express in 2007, and is currently Technical Fellow in the FedEx healthcare industry vertical. In this role, she provides direction and raises awareness around trends, transportation regulatory frameworks and shipping solutions. Prior to her work with FedEx, Dr. Laot held managerial positions in R&D, innovation and strategy at Bayer in Germany for about six years.

Dr. Laot obtained PhD and MS in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech (USA), a Diplôme d’Ingénieur from UTC Compiègne (France), as well as an MBA from HEC Montreal (Canada).